Special sergeant

A special sergeant is a core position within policing. It's a team leader role in the policing professional profiles. The special sergeant core rank profile outlines the basic requirements of the role. 

Role purpose

Special sergeants are the first stage of leadership in the special constabulary. They have the same powers as a special constable. They oversee the supervision, guidance and support of special constables. The special sergeant is responsible for the development of special constables in their team and ensuring that organisational standards are met and agreed objectives are achieved. 

A special sergeant will co-ordinate special constabulary activities and resources, to uphold the law, enable public safety and build public confidence in policing in line with legal frameworks and policy guidelines.

Key responsibilities

Key responsibility statements show the accountabilities for someone in this role. They focus on what is done, not how it is done.

• Leading a team of special constables upholding values and ethical standards. Acting with the highest level of professionalism in accordance with the law, the public interest, and professional policing practice to protect the public by preventing and detecting crime.
• Providing advice and support to team members to deliver responses within appropriate policies, guidance and legislation and achieving the best possible outcomes.   
• Managing performance effectively, assessing the capabilities and development needs of team members. Devising appropriate development plans to promote high performance and potential progression.
• Supporting planning of policing operations and response to incidents. Ensuring policing decisions and actions align with relevant frameworks models, allocating resources, managing risk to enable public safety.
• Leading, motivating, developing, and engaging a team. Supporting and enabling continuing professional development through regular conversations. Discussing and agreeing goals and standards. Providing timely, specific and constructive feedback. Devising appropriate team and individual development plans to enable high performance and potential progression.
• Building engagement, co-ordinating and monitoring establishment of effective relationships with communities, partners and stakeholders. Helping deliver an effective approach to preventing and addressing vulnerability and crime in line with the force's planned approach.
• Identifying and implementing opportunities for change/innovation to drive continuous improvement in policing. Applying critical thinking to identify solutions to problems in line with evidence-based practice within own area of responsibility.
• Leading and fostering an inclusive culture. Role modelling good practice that demonstrates fairness, respect, integrity and accountability. Using reflection and feedback to develop and enhance leadership skills and performance. Developing these skills to enable successful policing.
• Monitoring pressures faced by team members, encouraging personal reflection. Supporting team members to recognise and address their wellbeing needs to ensure the delivery of an effective policing response.